Howard Stern tears into Jay Leno

[AKA]

Howard Flips Jay The Bird

By John Mainelli
The New York Post

Howard Stern tore into Jay Leno for nearly an hour yesterday, blasting him for "ripping off" longtime sidekick "Stuttering John" Melendez.

"Jay thinks this is going to make him hip," Stern railed on his first day back on the air after learning that Leno hired Melendez to be his new announcer and correspondent starting next month.

Stern has frequently accused Leno of swiping bits from his top-rated radio show, including his stripper and homeless-person quizzes and wacky celebrity interviews - a Stuttering John trademark.

"How much more material are you going to take from me?" Stern said.

"You make $14 million a year and Letterman makes $31 million. Why don't you ask NBC for the 31 and pay me the rest since I'm writing material for you now?

"You wanted a guy associated with my show [because] you can't get 18 to 25-year-old men," Stern said. "To an 18- to 25-year-old male, Jay Leno is gay. He might as well put a dress on."

Leno called Stern twice to discuss Melendez, according to the shock jock, and even asked Stern to appear on the "Tonight Show" to discuss his gripes - an offer Stern rejected.

"I told him everyone in the business is talking about how transparent and lame and gay you are and that you can't even develop your own people," Stern said. "I said this move is as bizarre to me as when you hid in the closet and spied on the NBC executives."

Stern said he loves Melendez - who will reportedly make $1.5 million over three years - and warned Leno not to abandon him when the ratings don't go up.

"Ask David Letterman how loyal Jay is," Stern told Melendez, who kept a low profile during Stern's rant, except to volunteer that maybe Leno's motives are pure.

"Can't they just like me?" Melendez said.

Leno declined comment through a "Tonight Show" spokesperson.

Stern said surprisingly little yesterday about the "zero tolerance" indecency policy announced by his Infinity bosses when he was on vacation last week.

[AKA]

Stern Decries "The business has changed"

FMQB

On his second day back from vacation, Howard Stern is sounding increasingly frustrated with the reality of the consequences from the FCC's indecency crackdown. "The business has changed," he decried this morning moments before unleashing on his favorite whipping boy, WXRK/New York GM Tom Chiusano, about the restrictions being placed on his show and the atmosphere that he is currently working in.

"I'm not who I am," Stern declared. "You are bleeping who I am. I've got Dead Air Dave bleeping me. I've got you hovering and yelling at people. You're lecturing my staff and making everyone nuts. I can't even do damage control with what you are up to. When you lecture people and walk around and create an environment where people are scared, I can't get creativity out of that. You're as bad as the FCC."

"You may not believe this, but I don't like this anymore than you do," Chiusano, who was in the studio to discuss a scheduled sitdown between Stern and Viacom COO Mel Karmazin about last week's Infinity indecency edict, said in his defense. Stern alleged the meeting was forced upon him at the behest of the K-Rock GM. The sitdown with Karmazin was presumably called off when Stern scheduled a meeting with Chiusano for later this week.

When The Howard Stern Show returned to live action yesterday (2/23) after a week of vacation, Stern admitted he had yet to hear firsthand from Karmazin about last week's indecency edict imposed upon Infinity radio stations. He went on to say it isn't fair that he could lose his job because the FCC thinks something is wrong with his show's content. The notion that under Karmazin's edict, PDs and GMs will be held accountable for their air talents' actions didn't sit well with Stern either, though he did joke that the prospect of getting Chiusano axed could be worth it.

Also, amidst all the talk about Stuttering John's surprise announcement that he's exiting for a gig on the Tonight Show, Stern also found out that his show is now on four separate delays for a total of 90 seconds.

[TJL]

Yeah, I kinda figured Howard would have a problem with John's departure.

I love Howard Stern and have listened to him for years, but the one thing that is constant with him is that he can't stand it when one of his co-stars has any kind of sucess outside the show.

I've never been a big Stuttering John fan, so I'm not to broken up about his departure, but Howard's ranting has really belittled John's accomplishment.

Howard should have been more supportive of John in his last week on the show, then he could have said whatever he wanted about Leno when John moved on.

[Mysty Eyes]

Uh, gee... You think someone has an anger problem???

Howard Stern is a loser, IMO. A loud-mouthed one at that. Once-upon-a-time, many loooooong years ago, I had a wee bit of respect for that man. That has completely disappeared.

[Jenya]

Shock Jock Howard Stern Pulled Off Air

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday February 26, 2004

WASHINGTON - The nation's largest radio station chain announced Wednesday it was suspending shock jock Howard Stern's radio show after issuing new rules to limit indecency and address criticism of what airs on TV and radio.

Clear Channel Radio said it suspended broadcast of Stern's show after assessing the content of his show Tuesday.

``Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content and Howard Stern's show blew right through it,'' John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said in a news release. ``It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency.''

Hogan said the show would not air on Clear Channel stations until officials are assured it will conform to acceptable broadcasting standards.

Attempts to reach Stern's spokesman for comment late Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Under pressure from regulators and lawmakers, some TV networks are delaying live broadcasts to delete offensive material and doing more to let parents know how they can block specific programs. The National Association of Broadcasters says it will hold a conference on indecency next month.

The rules issued by Clear Channel Communications came on the eve of the second congressional hearing this month on broadcast indecency. John Hogan, president of Clear Channel Radio, is scheduled to testify along with top officials from TV networks.

Congress is considering increasing the maximum fine for indecency from $27,500 to $275,000, a move that the Federal Communications Commission endorsed even before the tumult over singer Janet Jackson's exposed breast during the nationally televised Super Bowl halftime show.

``In the history of broadcast indecency, there have been these moments where it makes headlines,'' said Jeremy Lipschultz, a professor of communication at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. ``In the short term, broadcasters become much more careful. You're going to see people playing it safe. The long-term problem is the same one we've had, which is it's very difficult in the end to precisely define what is indecent or not. ``

Under FCC rules and federal law, radio stations and over-the-air television channels cannot air material containing references to sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children may be tuning in. The rules do not apply to cable and satellite channels and satellite radio.

Clear Channel's new policy includes companywide training about indecency, possible fines against DJs, and automatic suspensions for anyone accused by the FCC of violating indecency rules on the air, company officials said.

The initiative came one day after the company fired the DJ known as ``Bubba the Love Sponge,'' whose show drew an FCC-record fine of $755,000. The program aired in four Florida cities and included graphic discussions about sex and drugs ``designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners,'' the FCC said.

``Clear Channel is serious about helping address the rising tide of indecency on the airwaves,'' said Mark Mays, president and chief operating officer. ``As broadcast licensees, we are fully responsible for what our stations air, and we intend to make sure all our DJs and programmers understand what is and what is not appropriate.''

Mel Karmazin, president of Viacom Inc., discussed indecency issues during a conference call last week with officials and station managers of the company's Infinity Broadcasting radio subsidiary. Infinity, which owns 120 stations, asked them to increase efforts to avoid indecent programming, such as using a seven-second delay on shows with live talk, spokesman Dana McClintock said.

Infinity, owned by Viacom, in 1995 paid the largest cumulative fine to date, $1.7 million, for various violations by Stern.

[EricIdlefan]

Well, Leno isn't the first one he bashed remember Kathie Lee Gifford?? He bashed her when the Kathie Lee clothing was under fire for having kids like 8 or 9 do her sweatshop work in Tawian factories getting only less than 5 cents a day working like 18 hours a day and seven days a week. Stern only goes on Letterman and that is the reason why he isn't on Leno!!

[pna42]

Stutter John is a useless, unfunny, un talented tool who'll last 6 months before some old crow from the mid west will hear that John was on ''Howard Stern'' show. She will then decide that she must ''stand up against indecency'' and save us all and start writing letters with her shriveled up, shaky hand.
The witch hunt is on by the FCC simply because it's an election year and right now it's the thing to do. Howard and any other 'shock jock' will be tied to the stake and crucified.
I think it's funny that you can watch TV channels like BET or MTV and see women being degraded or watch other channels and watch hillbillies on Jerry Springer who want to do it with farm animals and are leaving their girlfriends but those kinds of things go unchecked.

[TJL]

Wow, I can't believe Howard has been suspended!

I can't wait to hear his reactions this morning.

He hinted earlier this week he mght not be around much longer. I wonder if this will push him to quit?

I'll be tuning in.

[TJL]

Originally posted by pna42
Stutter John is a useless, unfunny, un talented tool who'll last 6 months before some old crow from the mid west will hear that John was on ''Howard Stern'' show. She will then decide that she must ''stand up against indecency'' and save us all and start writing letters with her shriveled up, shaky hand.

That's a good point. Leno isn't going to deal with any kind of controversy. If he's trying to make his show more "hip" by bringing in a Howard Stern Show star, it might backfire on him.

[SBTB Geek]

I don't blame Howard for being mad, Leno ALWAYS rips-off his skits!

[PZelda]

GOODBYE, STERKER!!!!!!



I would moon him...but I think he might like that a bit TOO much.

[fr00ti]

Good. I dont like Howard Stern.

[Sterling Holobyte]

Originally posted by TJL
That's a good point. Leno isn't going to deal with any kind of controversy. If he's trying to make his show more "hip" by bringing in a Howard Stern Show star, it might backfire on him.

I wonder if the celebrities Jay has on will be taking jabs at John or will even want to come on the show. He pissed off a lot of celebrities with some of those interviews he did on Howard Stern's show.
...Come to think of it, I don't think it will matter. Stars are fickle and they'll at least "act" like they don't hate John if it gives them exposure and some bucks.

[Janice]

Shock Jock Howard Stern Vents on Air

NEW YORK (AP) - A day after the nation's largest radio station chain suspended shock jock Howard Stern's show for alleged indecency, Stern vented on the air Thursday with uncharacteristic restraint.

"They are so afraid of me and what this show represents," he said.

Clear Channel Radio suspended Stern from six stations - the only outlets among its 1,200 stations that air the show - after an on-air interview Tuesday with socialite Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon during which a caller used a racial slur. Salomon is the man involved in the hotel heiress' infamous homemade sex video.

Stern's show is still being carried on stations owned by a rival radio network, Infinity Broadcasting, that distributes it to major markets nationwide. In 1995, Infinity paid the largest cumulative FCC fine to date, $1.7 million, for various violations by Stern's radio show.

The six Clear Channel stations involved are in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla., Rochester, N.Y., San Diego, Pittsburgh and Louisville, Ky.

"Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content, and Howard Stern's show blew right through it," Clear Channel's president and CEO, John Hogan, said in a news release Wednesday. "It was vulgar, offensive and insulting, not just to women and African-Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency."

Stern said Thursday morning near the beginning of his show that he wasn't even sure he should talk about it.

"I could blow my stack, but ... ," Stern said, trailing off. "A caller used the N word, and I hung up on him."

Hogan was scheduled to testify along with top officials from television networks at the second congressional hearing this month on broadcast indecency in the wake of the exposure of Janet Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl halftime show Feb. 1.

"Janet Jackson is now forgotten and I'm on the front page of every newspaper," said Stern. "I can't imagine the pressure they're putting on this guy."

Clear Channel said Stern's show would not air until officials are assured it will conform to acceptable broadcasting standards.

[Sterling Holobyte]

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
GOODBYE, STERKER!!!!!!



I would moon him...but I think he might like that a bit TOO much.

Oh, you're just mad because he makes fun of Rosie's head.